岭外音书断
Beyond the mountains, letters and news were cut off;
经冬复历春
Winter passed, then spring came again.
近乡情更怯
The nearer home I come, the more anxious I feel,
不敢问来人
And dare not ask a traveler coming from there.
What the poem means
After a long time without news from home, winter has passed into spring. Nearing home, the traveler becomes more anxious and hesitates to ask for news. Mixed feelings can exist together.
Meet the poet
Song Zhiwen was a Tang poet. Nearing home brings hope and worry together, making it hard to ask for news.
Song Zhiwen · More poems →